Carney says Canada to spend 5% of GDP on defence by 2035

NATO allies, including Canada, have agreed to increase defense spending to five percent of GDP over the next 10 years. This means that Western countries, including Ottawa, are going to invest heavily in defense by 2035.

The new target was approved during a NATO summit in the Netherlands today, a significant policy victory for President Donald Trump. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte opened the meeting by praising Trump for increasing defense spending.

The five percent target is divided into two parts, with the first 3.5 percent focusing on core defense needs, including fighter jets and weapons, and the remaining 1.5 percent will be spent on defense-related infrastructure.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, while supporting the new NATO target, said that the world is rapidly moving towards a dangerous turning point and that it is becoming divided, in such a situation, Canada will have to strengthen its defense to better protect its sovereignty, its interests and its allies.